Friday in Hawkville: Concussed J.R. Sweezy out for Sunday’s game

The Seahawks will lean on their next-man-up approach again on Sunday, when right guard J.R. Sweezy will not play against the Arizona Cardinals because of the concussion he got in last week’s game against the Giants.

A recap of the activities at Virginia Mason Athletic Center for Dec. 20, when the players had their final full practice for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field:

WORDS OF THE DAY: NEXT-MAN-UP

That has actually been the phrase of the season for the Seahawks, who have continued to win despite playing without an assortment of starters.

For Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field, the Seahawks will be without right guard J.R. Sweezy. He was ruled out by coach Pete Carroll after Friday’s practice, and after not practicing all week because of the concussion he got in last week’s win over the New York Giants.

“J.R. is going through the process, the protocol, and did not make it. So we’ll keep him out this week,” Carroll said. “It happened in the game and we did not realize it was an issue until afterwards.”

Bowie started seven games at right tackle when Breno Giacomini was out with a knee injury, including the Seahawks’ Week 7 victory over the Cardinals in Arizona. But he was inactive the past four games.

“I’ll be ready. I had a good week of preparation,” Bowie said. “Even though I haven’t been active the last couple weeks, my mind has still been in it every week that I’m going to be active. So I’ve been preparing like I’m going to play every week.”

The Seahawks are 12-2 and can clinch the NFC West championship, a first-round bye in the playoffs and home-field advantage throughout the postseason with a win over a Cardinals team that was won six of its past seven games. And the Seahawks have reached this point even with 11 starters missing a combined 42 games.

The Seahawks will start their seventh combination on the offensive line against the Cardinals, regardless of who starts at right guard.

INJURY REPORT: RICHARD SHERMAN SITS OUT TO REST HIP

The official end-of-the-week status report, as issued by the team:

STAT DU JOUR: 14, AND COUNTING

Second-year quarterback Russell Wilson already has 14 victories at CenturyLink Field, which ties him for third in most consecutive home wins by a QB to start a career in the NFL since 1970. Here’s a look at who Wilson has a chance to catch:

Sherman did not practice Friday, but Carroll said it was to rest him and that Sherman will play Sunday. Miller was limited in practice, but the other five players listed as probably participated in all phases of practice – including Lane, who sat out Thursday’s practice.

“Coach (Pete) Carroll is more of a philosopher, a deep thinker and kind of Zen-for-life kind a guy. (Bruce Arians) is very short and sweet and to the point. Definitely two different coaching mentalities.”

Cardinals QB Carson Palmer, who played for Carroll at USC and now plays for Arians

Fitzgerald was limited in practice, but he remains a game-day decision as he completes the concussion protocol. Cardinal coach Bruce Arians told reporters in Phoenix that Palmer was “good enough to play” with the sprained ankle he got in last week’s overtime victory against the Titans in Tennessee. “He can move around the pocket as well as he did last week,” Arians said.

UP NEXT: A RETURN TO CENTURYLINK FIELD

After going coast-to-coast the past two weeks to play back-to-back road games against the 49ers in San Francisco and Giants at the Meadowlands, the Seahawks return to CenturyLink Field to close the regular season with games against NFC West rivals – the Cardinals on Sunday and St. Louis Rams next week.

“There’s no place like home,” said QB Russell Wilson, who is 14-0 at CenturyLink. “Obviously playing at CenturyLink, it’s a place that we’re really fired up to play in. The energy in the stadium is unbelievable and so it makes it tough for the other team too.

“I’m excited to play back at home again these last two games, and the goal is to finish the season strong obviously. That’s always our goal is to finish strong. So we’ve got to take one play at a time and just be in the moment and allow our fans to pick up the energy for us and use that. So we need our 12th Man fans to bring it strong here.”

A gallery of all the We Are 12 images showcasing the beauty of the region, the breadth of our fan base, and the subtle galvanization of the Seattle Seahawks community. We are 12 everywhere and everyday.